Guy clamp



W. C. BRISSE July 17, 1962 GUY CLAMP Filed Jan. 3, 1961 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM C.BR|SSE BY ww MW "III-I...

ATTORNEYS United States Patent The invention relates generally to supporting and anchoring systems and particularly guy clamps appurtenant to portable structures.

It is well known that, in recent years, new types of large portable structures, as radomes, have been developed for many diverse purposes. As a result, persons in the art have become increasingly aware of the necessity for providing means which are especially adapted to supporting and anchoring portable structures, the problem being emphasized by the increased size of practical portable structures and the use of such structures under more and more difficult conditions. A most satisfactory solution to the problem may be attained only when it is recognized that a ground anchoring system designed specifically to support and anchor modern portable structures must be provided.

Insofar as a supporting and anchoring system per se is concerned, there are many criteria which must be met if the full advantages of modern portable structures are to be realized. Among the criteria are the following: The system must be adapted to use with many different types of structures; no special provisions must be required to use the system in different environments; and the system must be economical to produce and use.

it is common practice in the art to use guys, eitherwire or cable, running from a number of ground anchors to spaced points on a portable structure. The tension on each guy must be adjusted so that the load is equally distributed between the guys, regardless of either the number of guys used, or the contour of the terrain on which the structure is being erected. Therefore, any means used to attach-guys to a portable structure are critical in a satisfactory anchoring system since such attaching means must be positive in action under all conditions, easily adjusted and must not weaken the guy.

The prior art relating to clamps used in anchoring systems is exemplified by clamps, such as are described in Kicrnzle, US. Patent No. 1,315,969, Webb, U.S. Patent No. 862,298, and the co-pending application of Clevett,

Ser. No. 782,597, filed October 16, .1958, now Patent No.

2,986,242 issued May 30, 1961. Kiemzle describes a clamp for a cable in which means are provided to ensure rupture of a coupling before the elastic limits of the cable are reached. Such a device is particularly suited for applications in which sudden strains are experienced and does not provide any easy way of adjusting tension on a cable. Webb describes a clamp for wire used to connect a guy between a. fence and a ground anchor. view of the relatively small strains experienced in such a use, no provision is made to ensure holding by the clamp when large strains are placed on it. Clevett describes a clamp which is positive in action, but which holds a cable by deforming the cable between two jaws, consequently weakening of the cable may be experienced under certain conditions.

Therefore, a primary object of my invention is topro vide an improved guy clamp for a ground anchoring sys tern adapted to use with many types of portable structures.

Another object of my invention is to provide a clamp ing means which will allow adjustment of the tension among a plurality of guys without deforming any one of the guys. I

Still another object of my invention is to provide an improved self-locking clamp from wire or cable.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an improved self-locking clamp for a guy, which clamp is easily disengaged from the guy when desired.

In the accomplishment of these and other objects of my invention, I provide a clamp consisting of two crowned clamping jaws held together 011 a loosely fitting stud. When a guy, which may be either a Wire or a cable, is crossed around the stud between the clamping jaws and pulled, a frictional engagement between the guy and the clamping jaw causes the clamping jaws to rock around the stud until the guy is firmly held in'place. If it is desired to unlock the guy from the clamp, the guy is pushed in the direction opposite to the direction caus ing clamping until the clamping jaws rock back into their initial position, releasing the guy. The details of my invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, greatly simplified, showing an anchoring system in which the clamp contemplated by this invention may be used;

FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are perspective views, partially broken away, showing in detail the clamp used in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken by passing the plane 44- through the clamp as shown in FIG. 3 to 7 illustrate the action of the clamp when it is taken up to 'mentary cover :plates 34, 36 and the clamping jaws 30,

secure a guy.

In FIG. 1, my ground-anchoring system is shown securing a radome, although other types of portable structures are equally well adapted to the system. In the figure, the numeral iii designates a radome. Peripherally attached to the radome is a so-called catenary line 12. The manner in which the catenary line 12 is attached to the radome i0 is not critical to the invention, it being sufficient only that a number of depending loops be provided. The radome 10 is secured to a substratum 14 by means of a plurality of my anchoring assemblies 16, a separate one of the anchoring assemblies 16 being attached to a separate one of the loops of the catenary line 12. Each one of the anchoring assemblies 16 consists of a clamp 18, a guy 20, and a ground anchor 22. As illustrated, the guy consists of a wire folded approximately at its center and doubled back on itself to provide two leads, the bight of the wire being attached to the ground anchor 22. The individual ground anchors are.

driven into the substratum 1410 a desired depth, leaving the free ends of the two leads projecting up from the substratum as shown at A in FIG. 1. After all the ground anchors have been embedded in the substratum 14, a clamp is placed on each of the loops of the catenary line 12 and the free ends of the guys 20 are inserted in their respective clamps. The clamps are then adjusted so that the tension on the guys 20 is equalized. i

Referring now to FIGS. 2 through 4, the details of construction and operation of a preferred embodiment of a clamp particularly suited for use in my anchoring system is shown. As illustrated, the clamp is adapted to use with a wire guy, but as will be shown hereinafter, the clamp may be easily modified for use with a cable guy. The clamp consists of a pair of opposing clamping jaws 30, 32 oriented with respect'to each other by a pair of complementary cover plates 34, 36 and linked by a thread ed stud 38 and a nut 46 as shown in FIG. 4. The faces of the clamping jaws 30, 32 are crowned, againas shown in FIG. 4, and the stud 38 is disposed adjacent the base of the opposing clamping jaws 30, 32. A rounded depression 42 1s centrally formed in each of the. comple- 32 to accommodate a catenary line during use; The com usable with a guy made 3 plementary cover plates 34, 36 further are folded so as to form walls 44, 46, each wall having a number of extensions, as for example extensions 48, 50, to match a corresponding number of cooperating depressions in the other cover plate so that the complementary cover plates 34, 36 and the clamping jaws 30, 32 within the confines of such plates, are prevented from rotating with respect to each other. The stud 38 passes through the cover plates 34, 36 and the clamping jaws 3t 32, being led through aligned openings (unnumbered) in each of the elements. The size of the aligned openings are not critical to the invention, it being sufiicient only that they be somewhat larger than the diameter of the stud 38.

During operation, the clamp is placed over the catenary line 12 with the depression 42 resting on top of the catenary line. The free ends of the guy to be clamped (here shown as a wire) are passed through the base of the clamp, one free end lying on one side of the catenary line 12 and, the other free end lying on the opposite side thereof, on different sides of the stud 38, crossed, and led out of the clamp on different sides of the extensions 48, 50. When the nut is made hand-tight and tension is applied to the guy 2%) in the direction shown by the arrows AA in FIG. 3, the guy moves slightly in the direction of the arrows, frictionally engaging the surfaces of the clamping jaws 3t 32. This frictional engagement causes the clamping jaws 3t 32 to rock slightly on the stud 38, bringing the opposing faces of the clamping jaws 30, 32 together adjacent the base of the clamp as shown in FIG. 4. At the same time, each of the free ends of the guy 20 bears upon one side of the stud 38 and one of the extensions 48, 50, thereby maintaining the overlap of the free ends of the guy 20 in the clamp, even though the guy 20 slides a short distance within the clamp. As the rocking motion of the clamping jaws 3t), 32 continues, the frictional engagement between the wire and the faces of the clamping jaws 30, 32 increases and the cross-over point between the free ends of the guy 20 moves toward the stud 38 until the guy 20 is held tightly in position. The advantages attained by crowning the faces of the clamping jaws 3h, 32 may now be seen. Obviously, the minimum spacing between the faces of the clamping jaws 30, 32 is dependent upon the thickness of the wire therebetween. At the cross-over point of the free ends of the wire, this minimum spacing is equal to twice the thickness of the wire (if no deformation of the wire is experienced) while at other points within the clamp the minimum spacing is less, approaching the thickness of the wire as a limit (again, if no deformation of the wire is experienced). If the faces of the jaws 30, 32 are uncrowned, that is, if the faces are flat, there would be a tendency for holding engagement between the wire and the clamping jaws to be restricted to the area of the clamping jaws adjacent the base of the clamp, or at the very edge of the base. This latter condition, when it exists, is not satisfactory in that the wire may be held only when the holding jaws dig into the wire. On the other hand, when the faces of the holding jaws are crowned, holding engagement between the holding jaws and the wire occurs over a relatively long length of the wire, thus ensuring a more secure clamping action without danger of deforming the wire. As a matter of fact, I have found that, the faces of the clamping jaws are crowned, a 2" clamp (that is, a clamp having clamping jaw faces 2" wide) may withstand more than 2,000 pounds tension on a guy without slippage or damage to the wire.

If it is desired to clamp cables rather than wire, the illustrated clamp may easily be adapted to such a purpose as previously mentioned. Thus, the holding jaws 3t), 32 may be reversed within the clamp so that two serrated surfaces 52, 54 are disposed oppositely each other. During operation, a cable is inserted in the clamp in exactly the same manner as previously described for a wire, and tension is applied to the leads of the cable. The clamp Upon entering the clamp, the leads are passed 4 itself operates in basically the same manner as when a wire is to be held, except that the serrations 52, 54 provide additional frictional forces between the cable and the clamping jaws 3t), 32 so that the relatively rough surface of the cable may be firmly held.

There are modifications to my clamp which may be made without departing from the original concepts thereof. For example, the cover plates may be dispensed with, their function being assumed by forming a noncircular hole through the holding jaws to receive a threaded stud having a noncircular section. Thus, the holding jaws may be prevented from rotating with respect to each other without using cover plates. Another obvious modification to the invention is to provide separate jaws for holding wire and cable rather than the reversible jaws illustrated.

Having thus described and disclosed a preferred embodiment of my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A clamp for a guy having a first and a second portion crossed within said clamp, comprising, a first and a second crowned clamping jaw and positioning means loosely supporting said first and said second crowned clamping jaw in operative relationship one to the other on either side of said first and said second portion.

2. A clamp for a guy as in claim 1 wherein said positioning means movably supports said first and said second crowned clamping jaw in frictional engagement with said first and said second portion adjacent the crossover thereof to cause said first and said second crowned clamping jaw to rotate around said positioning means in response to movement of said first and said second portion toward said positioning means so as to hold said first and said second portion firmly between said first and said second crowned clamping jaw.

'3. A clamp for a guy as in claim 1 wherein said positioning means includes a threaded stud and a mating nut, said first and said second crowned clamping jaw being loosely mounted on said threaded stud, the center line of said threaded stud being offset from the center of said first and said second crowned clamping jaw, and said mating nut being positioned along said threaded stud to maintain the opposing faces of said first and said second crowned clamping jaw in frictional engagement with said first and said second portion.

4. A clamp for a guy as in claim 3 wherein said guy is a cable and said opposing faces of said first and said second crowned clamping jaw are serrated.

5. A clamp for a guy having a first and a second portion crossed within said clamp, comprising, in combination, clamping means, including a pair of crowned jaws covering the crossover of said first and said second portion, supporting means loosely holding said crowned jaws opposite to each other and in frictional engagement with said first and said second portion, covering means overlying said crowned jaws to hold said crowned jaws in position on said supporting means and maintain said first portion and said second portion in crossed position within said clamp.

6. A clamp for a guy as in claim 5 wherein said guy is a cable and the opposing surfaces of said crowned clamping jaws are serrated.

7. A self-jamming clamp wherein crossed leads are frictionally engaged between a pair of movable clamping jaws, said jaws being actuated by movement of said crossed leads, comprising, a first and a second holding plate, said first and second holding plate each having a crowned surface, means rotatably maintaining said crowned surface of said first holding plate in position opposing said crowned surface of said second holding plate to define an opening between said first and said second holding plate to receive said crossed leads whereby movement of said crossed leads causes said first and second plate to rotate to jam said crossed leads in place within said clamp.

8. The method of clamping crossed wires, comprising, References Cited in the file of this patent crossing free ends of the wires to be clamped between a UNITED STATES IPATENTS first and a second curved surface 1n frictional engagement therewith, moving the leads of said wires to be clamped 349,147 Durand, Sept 1886 along said first and said second curved surface to jam 5 479218 Koppennofer July 1892 said crossed Wires therebetween. 562385 Frost June 1896 9. The method of clamping crossed wires as in claim 8 9021091 Lancaster 1908 having, in addition, the step of holding said first and said 1'765837 Keator June 1930 second surface in a fixed relative rotational relationship 2046247 Chandler June 1936 one to the other. 10 2,179,516 atrick Nov. 14, 1939 

